Vol. 518 No. 4
235 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if regulations exist to control the use and abuse of scanners which are being used to monitor Garda calls and can lead members of the public to believe that their calls to the Garda are being monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11924/00]
I am informed by the Garda Síochána that no specific regulations exist to control the use of scanners, although the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926, prohibits the use of or passing on of information obtained by their use.
I can say, however, that the advent of the new Garda Radio Network, known as TETRA, an acronym of terrestrial trunked radio, which it is planned to pilot test next year, will provide the Garda with a fully secure, encrypted, integrated and nationwide system of radio communications, and will, inter alia, eliminate the interception of radio messages to or from the Garda.
